India and US discussed the road map for future engagements, including a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump, and regional issues such as the situation in Afghanistan and Kashmir.
A delegation led by US deputy secretary of state John Sullivan and including the Trump administration's point person for South Asia, Alice Wells, met external affairs minister S Jaishankar to take stock of bilateral ties and issues of mutual interest such as the Indo-Pacific.
Cathay CEO Quits As Hong Kong Protests Continue
The boss of Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific Airways quits, the highest profile corporate casualty of unrest roiling the former British colony, after Beijing targeted the airline over staff involvement in mass protests.
The corporate upheaval comes ahead of a weekend where further protests are planned, including what could be a large gathering that could test whether a movement that has enjoyed broad support can retain it, even as violence escalates.
Demonstrators say they are fighting the erosion of the "one country, two systems" arrangement that has enshrined some autonomy for Hong Kong since China took it back from Britain in 1997.
Several thousand protesters gathered peacefully at a downtown park for the "Stand with Hong Kong, Power to the People" rally, which had received police permission.
Indonesia To Move Its Capital From Jakarta
Indonesia's president has announced plans to move the country's capital to the island of Borneo.
The move comes because the current capital Jakarta is sinking - with some 40% of its 10 million population now living below sea level.
It also suffers from pollution and overcrowding.
President Joko Widodo told the Indonesian parliament the country's international image is at stake.
In Jakarta, on the island of Java, sea walls are being built but the protection they offer is limited.
Rules Eased For Clearance Of Projects Near Buffer Zone
In a move that may weaken protection to wildlife sanctuaries, the Union environment ministry has tweaked the procedure for environmental clearances of developmental activities in the buffer zone, an area that is supposed to reinforce conservation of protected areas.
An office memorandum on August 8, 2019, said projects outside the boundary of the eco-sensitive zone of a sanctuary or park but within 10km radius will not need clearance from the National Board for Wildlife.
An office memorandum (OM) on August 8, 2019, published on the environment ministry website, said that projects outside the boundary of the notified eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of a sanctuary or national park but within 10 km radius of the park will not need prior clearance from the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL).
Projects located within the notified ESZ will require the NBWL's nod, which can be applied for together with the initial "terms of reference" application.
Mining will be prohibited within the notified ESZ or within only one km from the boundary of the park, whichever is higher according to the new OM. But in many states, protected areas do not have an ESZ of 10 km as specified by the Supreme Court.
Diamonds Found Near Earth's Core
An ancient reservoir of diamonds that is older than the moon has been discovered near the Earth's core, more than 410 km below the surface.
The diamonds had lain undisturbed for over 4.5 billion years before being brought to the surface by a violent volcanic eruption in Brazil.
Scientists measured helium isotopes in the diamonds to find the ancient reservoir.
Researchers say the diamonds gave them an insight into the tumultuous period shortly after the planet formed.
The government allotted Geographical Indication (GI) tags to four new products from the states of Tamil Nadu, Mizoram and Kerala.
GI is an indication used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess the qualities or reputation that are due to that origin.
The Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) recently registered GIs for Palani Panchamirtham in Palani Town, Tamil Nadu, Tawlhlohpuan and Mizo Puanchei from Mizoram and Tirur Betel leaf from Kerala.
HPCL Plans Rapid Vehicle-Battery Swap Project
Bracing for a future with less-polluting fuels, Indian oil refiner Hindustan Petroleum Corp. Ltd is planning a pilot programme for swapping batteries of electric two- and three wheelers at its outlets by December,2019.
The initiative is aimed at helping the company maintain its grip on a segment of the mobility market that's rapidly shifting to cleaner power sources.
NCLAT Orders Liquidation Of Debt-Ridden Amtek Auto
The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) ordered liquidation of Amtek Auto as it declined lenders' request for extension of insolvency resolution process deadline.
Amtek Auto was among the first list of 12 companies which were referred by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 2017 to respective banks for initiation of insolvency process for defaults.
UK-based Liberty House was selected as the highest bidder by the committee of creditors (CoC) of Amtek Auto. However, it later backed out citing some reasons following which the lenders requested 90 days more time to find a new buyer.
A three-member bench headed by chairperson Justice S.J. Mukhopadhaya directed the Chandigarh bench of the National Company Law Tribunal to pass an order of liquidation as 270 days mandated under IBC (Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code) for finalizing a resolution plan have already lapsed.
Department of Biotechnology (DBT) working under ministry of science and technology has recently launched human tissue mapping project called MANAV: Human Atlas Initiative.
It has been launched to improve understanding on human physiology.
Objective of this initiative is to map every single tissue of human body to find out deepest information and roles of tissues and cells linked to a variety of ailments.
This project is funded by Department of Biotechnology (DBT) that would make a database network of all human body tissues.
Those students part of this project will be trained and instructed with skills to perform annotation.
Ravi Shastri Retained As Head Coach Of Team India Till 2021
An impressive success rate and solid understanding with captain Virat Kohli helped Ravi Shastri extend his reign as the India head coach for a further two years, up to the 2021 T20 World Cup in India.
After interviewing the five candidates for the job at the BCCI office, the three-member committee of Kapil Dev, Anshuman Gaekwad and Shantha Rangaswamy declared that Shastri was chosen unanimously as the best candidate for the most high pressure coaching job in world cricket.
The panel looked at five parameters: coaching philosophy, coaching experience, achievements in coaching, communication and knowledge of modern coaching tools.
Bajrang Nominated For Khel Ratna Award
Asian and Commonwealth Games gold-medallist wrestler Bajrang Punia was nominated for the country's highest sporting honour — the Khel Ratna award, a year after he threatened to move court for not getting his due.
His name was finalised by a 12-member selection committee on the opening day of a two-day meeting.
The panel comprises the likes of Bhaichung Bhutia and MC Mary Kom among others and is headed by Justice (Retd) Mukundakam Sharma.
Dutee Claims Gold In 100m
Star sprinter Dutee Chand clocked 11.42 seconds to clinch the 100m gold at the Indian Grand Prix V at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports.
Tamil Nadu's Archana Suseentran gave Dutee a stiff competition before taking the silver with a time of 11.53 while Punjab sprinter Manvir Kaur settled for the bronze with a timing of 12.28 seconds.
In the women's 200m, Archana won the two-woman race in a career best time of 23.18 seconds but could not meet the World Championship qualification standard (23.02 seconds).
Having finished second behind Dutee in the 100m, she returned to the track determined to make the half-lapper one to remember.
The Supreme Court has cleared the decks for the Chardham highway project, which will connect four holy places in the hills of Uttarakhand through 900-km all-weather roads, by modifying an NGT order to constitute a fresh committee to look into environmental concerns.
It ordered the ministry of environment and forest to form the high-powered committee (HPC).
NGO Citizen for Green Doon had petitioned the apex court, after the National Green Tribunal on September 26, 2018 gave its conditional approval to the connectivity project in view of larger public interest, saying the project would cause an irreversible damage to regional ecology.
The NGT had constituted a committee headed by a former Uttarakhand high court judge to monitor the project.
Hearing the NGO's petition against the project, the apex court bench, comprising justice RF Nariman and Surya Kant only modified September 2018 NGT order by constituting a fresh HPC.
Commencement Of Container Train Services By CONCOR At Suranussi
Container Corporation of India Ltd (CONCOR) joined hands to commence container train operations from Suranussi, located near Jalandhar in Firozpur Division of Northern Railway.
A land license agreement was signed at Firozpur Division between Railways and CONCOR at a glittering ceremony graced by TP Singh, GM (Northern Rly); Rajesh Agrawal, DRM/Firozpur; Sanjay Swarup, Director (International Marketing & Ops.)/CONCOR; Kamal Jain, Exe. Director, CONCOR (Northern Region) and other senior officers from railways.
Arnala Police Station 1st To Get ISO certification
The Arnala Coastal police station has become the first ISO 9001:2015 certified police station in Palghar district, for efficient and quality policing.
The Trump administration is moving forward with an $8 billion sale of F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan.
The move is certain to further anger China at a time when a long-running trade war between Washington and Beijing has upended relations between the world's two largest economies and contributed to stock market turmoil.
The sale of 66 jets to Taiwan would be the largest single arms package transaction between the US and the democratic, self-governing island in years.
National Tribal Festival In Leh To Showcase Ladakh
The first outreach in Ladakh after Article 370 was rendered a dead letter is being cited as a step to bring Ladakh's potential into the mainstream & create business opportunities for tribal produce and products both in Ladakh and outside.
The event, called the Aadi Mahotsav, is being organised by the ministry of tribal affairs.
Home minister Amit Shah has sent a special message to the ministry expressing happiness that the festival was being held in Leh.
The festival would showcase folk dance, skills, art and craft along with herbal medicines from tribal region.
The event would help popularise tribal specialities and create opportunities to economically strengthen tribal communities.
J&K governor Satya Pal Malik and tribal affairs minister Arjun Munda will inaugurate the nine-day festival .
While Aadi Mahotsav was planned in Leh before the defanging of Article 370, the government sees the festival as a means to reach out to locals who have felt neglected for decades and have welcomed UT status.
Indonesian Independence Day
Independence Day is a national holiday in Indonesia commemorating the anniversary of the Indonesia's Proclamation of Independence on 17 August 1945. It was made a national holiday by then-President Sukarno in 1953.
Ceremonies and festive events are held throughout the country to celebrate this national day, including flag hoistings, local games and neighbourhood competitions, patriotic and cultural parades. Discounts are offered by participating shopping centres or businesses.
On this day, all Indonesian national televisions broadcast the National Independence Day Ceremony live from the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta.
Televisions also often air Indonesian patriotic songs, nationalistic-themed films, advertisements, and talk shows.
The Radcliffe Line Declared As Border
On 17th August 1947 the Radcliffe Line was declared as the boundary between India and Pakistan, following the Partition of India.
The line is named after Sir Cyril Radcliffe who was commissioned to equitably divide 4,50,000 km sq of territory with 88 million people.
Four of the mountaineers, including two Everesters who were closely involved in search of the ill-fated Indian Air Force's AN32 transport aircraft, will be awarded Arunachal Pradesh's highest annual award.
The AN-32 crashed in Arunachal Pradesh's Siang district on June 3, 2019 on its way from Jorhat in Assam to the advance landing ground in Mechuka with 13 crew members on board.
Taka Tamut from Siang and Kishon Tekseng from Upper Siang district, both of whom climbed Mount Everest in 2018 and Ongkengmang Mize and Talik Durung, both from Siang feature in the list of ten persons who will be awarded the gold medal.
CRPF Personnel Honoured With 75 Gallantry Medals
CRPF has been awarded with as many as 75 Medals for Gallantry (one Kirti Chakra, two Shaurya Chakra, two President's Police Medals for Gallantry and 70 Police Medals for Gallantry).
With this, the total number of Gallantry Medals won by the deserving force personnel till now has totalled to 1,900 - the highest ever among all the CAPFs in the country.
19 ITBP Officials Conferred With Medals On Independence Day
19 Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) officials have been conferred with Police Medals on the occasion of 73rd Independence Day, 2019.
Five of them were conferred with Police Medal for Gallantry, four with President's Police Medal for Distinguished Service while 10 were conferred with Police Medal for Meritorious service.
Five ITBP men of 44th Battalion ITBP have been awarded with Police Medal for Gallantry for displaying exemplary valour and extra ordinary courage in a naxal encounter that took place on October 25, 2017 in the jungles of Kamkasur and Kopankarka in Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh.
The Modi government is considering major changes to its flagship farm insurance scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, including an entirely new model of agricultural insurance in the country and making the programme optional for farmers availing farm loans, as messy implementation and delayed payouts have stoked farmers' angst.
The government hopes that making the scheme voluntary will remove a major gripe of farmers with agricultural loans, for whom buying a crop-insurance plan is mandatory, and whose share of premium is automatically deducted from their sanctioned loan amounts, while compensation is often delayed.
The scheme is already voluntary for those farmers who don't avail loans.
Scientists have discovered a new organ in the skin that senses pain and could pave the way for more effective painkilling medication.
These pain-sensing cells form a "mesh-like network" which is so extensive it should be considered an organ, scientists say. Previously it was believed the endings of nerve cells were unwrapped, but this latest research suggests that is not the case.
Study shows that sensitivity to pain does not occur only in the skin's nerve fibres, but also in this recently discovered pain-sensitive organ.
These cells sit below the outer layer of skin (the epidermis) and their long tentacle-like protrusions extend up into the outer layer.
The Aditya Birla World Academy Features In 'The Commonwealth At 70' Book
The Aditya Birla World Academy, India's leading International school is the only Indian school to be featured in 'The Commonwealth at 70: From Westminster to the World' book published by the popular London publishers St James's House and the History of Parliament Trust.
Mrs. Neerja Birla, Chairperson of The Aditya Birla World Academy attended the event 'Commonwealth at 70', that commemorated 70 years of the Commonwealth on 25th June 2019, at Westminster Abbey, UK.
Schools Named After Atal Bihari Vajpayee Will Be Opened In All Divisions
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that residential schools, named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, will be built in all 18 mandals (divisions) in the state.
Yogi Adityanath made this announcement at an event at the Lok Bhawan in Lucknow, commemorating Atal Bihari Vajpayee's first death anniversary, i.e. on 16 august,2019.
Yogi Adityanath also announced that a 25-feet tall statue of the former prime minister will be installed at Lok Bhawan in December 2019.
Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu released a book titled Vivekadeepini,a concise book of aphorisms.
It was initially written by Adi Shankaracharya who is one of India's greatest spiritual and literary geniuses.
Vivekadeepini:
Vivekadeepini is a summary of Prashnottara Ratnamalika written by Adi Shankaracharya.
The book has compiled a select 36 verses drawn from 67 verses of Prashnottara Ratnamalika.
The verses are written in Question-Answer format. It contains universal truths and are the starting point for reflection.
Book On Jammu And Kashmir's History From 1889 To 2019
A new book will tell the riveting story of the history of Jammu and Kashmir, from the time of its political and geographic consolidation under Maharaja Gulab Singh to the present-day, publishers Bloomsbury announced.
Titled, 'Kashmir's Untold Story: Declassified', the book penned by filmmaker Iqbal Chand Malhotra and defence analyst Maroof Raza, will hit stands September 18, 2019.
The book, which comes after the scrapping of Article 370 and 35A will also shed light on why the special status was 'integral to the accession treaty'.
Spaceport America is no longer just a shiny shell of hope that space tourism would one day launch from this remote spot in the New Mexico desert.
The interior spaces unveiled with an aim to connect paying customers with every aspect of the operation, providing views of the hangar and the space vehicles as well as the banks of monitors inside mission control.
Two levels within the spaceport include mission control, a preparation area for pilots and a lounge for customers and their friends and families, with each element of the fit and finish paying homage to either the desert landscape that surrounds the futuristic outpost or the promise of traveling to the edge of space.
From hotel rooms to aircraft cabins, the Virgin brand touts its designs for their focus on the customer experience.
A social hub includes an interactive digital walkway and a coffee bar made of Italian marble. On the upper deck, shades of white and gray speak to Virgin Galactic's more lofty mission.
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